I was talking to some the other week about the European Accessibility Act (EAA). They were frustrated and confused. Angry even.
They run a small business and the EAA just feels like another bureaucratic nightmare. They're being asked to spend time and money making everything accessible, but for who? They said they don't have any "blind customers."
And the requirements? Everything is either too technical or too much legalese. WCAG this, EN that.
Bottom line, they don't want to spend money or time to "add screen reader compatibility or whatever." They don't see how it adds to their bottom line and they also don't see how they can stop product development to fix accessibility.
And to be honest I heard them. I get it.
Accessibility is overwhelming, especially for smaller teams. And the fact that they feel like being legally punished for making money isn't helping. But accessibility isn't about laws. Businesses make money because they serve real people, one way or another. So isn't it their responsibility to make sure real people can use their website or service?
Just because someone hasn't told them they have a disability doesn't mean they aren't using the product. Or try to anyway. Because many people won't complain. They'll just leave and go somewhere else. That's lost business they'll never even know about.
Making the website more accessible doesn't necessarily mean huge costs. Neither does it mean they have to stop all product development and block ongoing work to fix everything.
Small, meaningful changes can and do make a big difference.
The EAA sets a baseline because people with disabilities shouldn't be locked out of life. And like it or not, more and more "life" happens online.
And when you do it right, accessibility benefits loads others. Disabilities or not. Faster sites, better SEO, better user experience and ultimately happier customers. That means positive word of mouth publicity.
So instead of seeing the EAA as a burden, maybe think of it as an opportunity to build something better for business.